Afternoon Drive with Xolani Gwala

South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has taken a decision to support Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to succeed President Jacob Zuma as leader of the African National Congress (ANC) at its elective conference next year.

Last week Cosatu said it was not going to make a decision on who to support and condemned other parties who are doing so.

NUM General Secretary David Sipunzi says when Ramaphosa was elected Deputy President it was a way of grooming him to become the next President.

We believe Cyril as an understudy is ready.

— David Sipunzi, NUM General Secretary

He says when the President is not available the Deputy takes over, and NUM is convinced that Ramaphosa's track record speaks volumes.

You need to remember that Cyril is the founding general secretary of the NUM.

— David Sipunzi, NUM General Secretary

When asked about Ramaphosa's involvement in Marikana, where 44 people lost their lives at the hands of the police, Sipunzi stated that nowhere has he read that Ramaphosa killed people in Marikana.